Gravel races in Spain

Like every country in the world, Spain reveals itself little by little, visit after visit, city after city. The country is even one of the top tourist destinations in the world! 🌍 But you’re not here to spend a vacation ❌—you’re going to discover the country differently: by riding! Adventurer that you are, you don’t stick to the already-drawn roads; you crave trails, gravel and elevation gain 📈. Spain is therefore the dream destination for all gravel lovers! Alejandro Valverde Belmonte, a two-time winner of the UCI Gravel World Series 🏆, never lacks places to train: nature, mountains, forest, seaside... The diversity of landscapes is such that you never want to stop riding 🤩.

Places made for gravel riding ⛰️

Riding across the Iberian Peninsula on your faithful steed is a chance to see beyond the usual big cities like Barcelona, Madrid or Seville! Yes, the country isn’t only about cultural heritage and the works of Antonio Gaudi (like the spectacular Sagrada Familia ⛪️); its natural heritage is just as impressive and often unknown to the general public 😌. To discover beautiful Spain differently, pump up your tires, strap on your panniers and set your sights on THE favorite destination of gravel riders: Girona! 📍 Located between the foothills of the Pyrenees and the shores of the Mediterranean, this city in the Catalan region is full of small winding roads 🛣️, steep tracks and varied landscapes that delight more than one cyclist 🥰. Tarmac, tracks, rough descents: no natural element is going to stop you—your gravel bike goes everywhere! 😎 A true playground, you’ll always find new routes to explore: the waves of the Costa Brava, volcanoes of the Garrotxa natural park 🌋, vineyards of Emporda... The choice is huge 🤯. The list of places suited to gravel riding is long: Mallorca, Teruel in Aragon, Toledo, Santiago de Compostela in Galicia, or even San Sebastian in the Spanish Basque Country... You’re bound to find what you’re looking for! 😉

Routes to train on 💪

From the Mediterranean to the Atlantic, from the Pyrenees to the Sierra Nevada, from the desert of Bardenas Reales to that of Tabernas 🏜️, there are as many opposite points on the map of Spain as there are cycling routes! 🤪 For trekking enthusiasts, multi-day bike trips are easy to find! Routes are mapped out linking Irun to Santiago de Compostela along the coast via Bilbao and Santander, Santiago to Seville via Salamanca, León to Pamplona, Burgos to Valencia, Alicante to Murcia... You get it—no more need for cars to visit Spain! 🚗 Plus, with the country’s ideal climate, you can pedal almost all year round 😇. The advantage of gravel is that you can take the time to get lost, to discover at your own pace, and above all to stop and refuel whenever you feel like it 😋. It’s no longer up for debate: Spanish cuisine is among the best and most convivial, with its many tapas and local wines (to be enjoyed in moderation ⚠️)! So hop on your gravel bike, go train, and discover the treasures of each region 🏞️.

A race to shine ✨

After racking up the kilometers and meeting fellow riders on the roads and tracks, you might feel like challenging yourself in a real timed race! ⏱️ We get it—competitiveness among athletes is inevitable 😂. So if you want to battle your rivals on the climbs, head to Girona! Yes, yes, we really are talking about the stronghold of gravel 😍. So start your training well in advance, because the race takes place in June and you’ll have to give it everything 🤗. Hold onto your legs, because 79.4 km and 943 m of elevation gain await you at the Canyon Girona Gravel Ride 🏅. It’s a chance to show what you’re capable of and to have maximum fun with the people you’ll meet in the bunch! 😜 Because yes, before the seconds on the clock, gravel races in Spain are above all wonderful moments of togetherness so that everyone can shine on the course ⭐️.